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260 BASIC ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION WORK

square units of area. Thus the illumination of a sur-

face follows the inverse square law, where
I
E
(lx)
d2

Fig. 5.2 The cosine law.

EXAMPLE 2
A street lantern suspends a 2000 cd light source 4 m above the ground.
Determine the illuminance directly below the lamp and 3 m to one side
of the lamp base.

Fig. 5.1 The inverse square law.

EXAMPLE 1
A lamp of luminous intensity 1000 cd is suspended 2 metres above a
laboratory bench. Calculate the illuminance directly below the lamp

I
E
(lx) The illuminance below the lamp, EA, is
d2
I
1000 cd EA
(lx)
E

250 lx d2
(2 m)2

The illumination of surface A in Fig. 5.2 will follow 2000 cd

EA

125 lx
the inverse square law described above. If this surface (4 m)2
were removed, the same luminous ux would then fall
on surface B. Since the parallel rays of light falling on To work out the illuminance at 3 m to one side of the lantern, EB, we
the inclined surface B are spread over a larger surface need the distance between the light source and the position on the
area, the illuminance will be reduced by a factor
, ground at B; this can be found by Pythagoras theorem:
and therefore
x (m)
(4 m)2  (3 m)2
25 m
I cos u x
5m
E
2 (lx)
d
I cos u 4
EB
2
(lx) and cos u

d 5
Since the two surfaces are joined together by the
trigonometry of the cosine rules this equation is 2000 cd  4
EB

64 lx
known as the cosine law. (5 m)2  5
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LIGHTING 261

EXAMPLE 3 level is to be measured. For general light levels hold

the instrument 85 cm above the oor in a horizontal
A discharge lamp is suspended from a ceiling 4 m above a bench. The plane.
illuminance on the bench below the lamp was 300 lux. Find: Take readings from the appropriate scale but take
(a) the luminous intensity of the lamp care not to obscure the photocell in any way when tak-
(b) the distance along the bench where the illuminance falls to 153.6 lux. ing measurements, for example, by casting a shadow
For (a), with the body or the hand. The recommended levels of
illuminance for various types of installation are given by
I the IES (Illumination Engineers Society) code which is
EA
(lx) I
E A d 2(cd)
d2 usually printed on the back of the meter, as shown in
Fig. 5.3. Some examples are given in Table 5.1.
I
300 lx  16 m
4800 cd

For (b),
I
EB
cos u (lx)
d2

I=?

4m d

EA = 300 lux x EB = 153.6 lux

Fig. 5.3 A typical lightmeter.

I cos u 2
d2
(m ) Table 5.1 Illuminance values
EB
Task Working Situation Illuminance (lux)
4800 cd 4 m Casual vision Storage rooms, stairs 100
d2
 and washrooms
153.6 lx d m Rough assembly Workshops and garages 300
Reading, writing Classrooms and ofces 500
d 3
125 and drawing
Fine assembly Electronic component 1000
3 assembly
d
125
5 m Minute assembly Watchmaking 3000
By Pythagoras,
The activities being carried out in a room will
x
52  42
3 m determine the levels of illuminance required since dif-
ferent levels of illumination are required for the suc-
cessful operation or completion of different tasks. The
assembly of electronic components in a factory will
Measurement of illuminance require a higher level of illumination than, say, the
assembly of engine components in a garage because
To take a reading, place a suitable illuminance meter, the electronic components are much smaller and ner
calibrated in lux, on to the surface whose illumination detail is required for their successful assembly.